Optic and apparatus for making an optic

ABSTRACT

An optic can manage light emitted by a light emitting diode. The optic can comprise a backside that faces the light emitting diode and a front side opposite the backside. The front side can be convex. The backside can have a central region that is adjacent the light emitting diode and that is either concave or convex. One or more grooves can extend peripherally about the central region. An injection molding system can produce optics in which the backside comprises the concave central region as well as optics in which the backside comprises the convex central region. The molding system can utilize one molding member shaped according to the front side of the optic. That molding member can be compatible with two other molding members that are shaped according to the different backsides of the optic. Thus, two different optic forms can be produced with three molding members.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments of the technology relate generally to illumination, and moreparticularly to optics for managing light emitted by a light emittingdiode (“LED”) and to tooling for molding such optics.

BACKGROUND

Luminaires with different illumination patterns can be suited todifferent applications or different mounting configurations. If aluminaire were to be mounted close to a large area to be illuminated, abroad illumination pattern might be desired. And if the luminaire wereto be mounted a greater distance from the same area, a narrowerillumination pattern might be desired.

Accordingly, need is apparent for improved capabilities to outfit aluminaire with optics that provide different illumination patternsaccording to the application or the mounting configuration. Need existsfor optics that have different or application-specific divergencecharacteristics and can be selected and incorporated in a luminairereadily and efficiently. Need further exists for a capability of makinga family of such optics using cost effective tooling. A technologyaddressing one or more such needs, or some related deficiency in theart, could advance the illumination field.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the disclosure, an optic can manage light emitted by alight emitting diode. The optic can comprise a backside that faces thelight emitting diode and a front side opposite the backside. The frontside can be convex. The backside can have a centrally located convexregion and a plurality of grooves extending about the centrally locatedconvex region.

In another aspect of the disclosure, another optic can manage lightemitted by a light emitting diode. The optic can comprise a backsidethat faces the light emitting diode and a front side opposite thebackside. The front side can be convex. The backside can have acentrally located concave region and at least one groove extending aboutthe centrally located concave region.

In another aspect of the disclosure, a molding system can produce two ormore types of optics that have common front-side contours but differentbackside contours. The system can comprise three molding members. Afirst molding member can be shaped according to the front-side contour.A second molding member can be shaped according to one backside contour.A third molding member can be shaped according to another backsidecontour. The first molding member can be combined with the secondmolding member for producing one type of optic and can further becombined with the third molding member for producing another type ofoptic.

The foregoing discussion is for illustrative purposes only. Variousaspects of the present technology may be more clearly understood andappreciated from a review of the following text and by reference to theassociated drawings and the claims that follow. Other aspects, systems,methods, features, advantages, and objects of the present technologywill become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination ofthe following drawings and text. It is intended that all such aspects,systems, methods, features, advantages, and objects are to be includedwithin this description and covered by this application and by theappended claims of the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of an optic for managing lightemitted by a light emitting diode according to some example embodimentsof the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A and 2B (collectively FIG. 2) illustrate front and backsides ofan array of the optics illustrated in FIG. 1 according to some exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross sectional view of a mold for fabricating theoptic illustrated in FIG. 1 according to some example embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross sectional view of the optic of FIG. 1overlaid with ray traces according to some example embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a polar plot of illumination output for the optic ofFIG. 1 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross sectional view of another optic for managinglight emitted by a light emitting diode according to some exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B (collectively FIG. 7) illustrate front and backsides ofan array of the optics illustrated in FIG. 6 according to some exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view of a mold for fabricating theoptic illustrated in FIG. 6 according to some example embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross sectional view of the optic of FIG. 6overlaid with ray traces according to some example embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a polar plot of illumination output for the optic ofFIG. 6 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross sectional view of another optic for managinglight emitted by a light emitting diode according to some exampleembodiments of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 12A and 12B (collectively FIG. 12) illustrate front and backsidesof an array of the optics illustrated in FIG. 11 according to someexample embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross sectional view of a mold for fabricating theoptic illustrated in FIG. 11 according to some example embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross sectional view of the optic of FIG. 11overlaid with ray traces according to some example embodiments of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 15 illustrates a polar plot of illumination output for the optic ofFIG. 11 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore notto be considered limiting of the embodiments described, as other equallyeffective embodiments are within the scope and spirit of thisdisclosure. The elements and features shown in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearlyillustrating principles of the embodiments. Additionally, certaindimensions or positionings may be exaggerated to help visually conveycertain principles. In the drawings, similar reference numerals amongdifferent figures designate like or corresponding, but not necessarilyidentical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

An optic can manage light emitted by a light emitting diode to provide adesired illumination pattern. Different types of the optic can providedifferent illumination patterns, for example to accommodate differentmounting heights in outdoor applications with overhead mounting. Thedifferent optic types can incorporate a common front-side contour anddifferent backside contours.

One example backside contour can comprise a convex region surrounded byone, two, three, or more grooves. Another example backside contour cancomprise a convex region without any surrounding grooves. Anotherbackside contour can comprise a concave region surrounded by one, two,three, or more grooves. Another example backside contour can comprise aconcave region without any surrounding grooves.

A family of optics can comprise two, three, or more types of optics. Thedifferent types of optics may incorporate a common front-side profile.Utilizing a common front-side lens profile can reduce the number oftooling inserts utilized to manufacture the different optics, therebysaving capital cost as well as reducing complexity. For example, aninjection mold that incorporates interchangeable molding parts ortooling inserts can produce the different types of the optics.

As discussed in further detail below, three different backside profilescan be incorporated in three different types of optics in order toachieve three desired performance distributions. The resulting opticscan support a narrow distribution, for example a 60-degree beam, amedium distribution, for example an 85-degree beam, and a widedistribution, for example a 110-degree beam. The distributions can beselected for applications with different mounting heights, for examplein a range of 15 to 50 or more feet. In some embodiments, the widedistribution can be deployed to illuminate a wide area at a lowermounting height, and the narrow distribution can be deployed toilluminate a similar area at a substantially higher mounting height.

Utilizing a neutral curvature for the outer, front-side profile andvarying the curvature for the inner or backside profiles, can supportthree distinct functional distributions. Optical efficiency can beenhanced, for example five percent or more, by using an internal totalinternal reflectance (“TIR”) wall for high-angle light that otherwisemight not contribute significantly to a desired narrow or wideillumination distribution. Distribution can further be improvedsubstantially for a narrow distribution, for example elevating intensityat giving at nadir. Both the narrow and wide distributions can utilizetotal internal reflectance walls to improve efficiency and beamdistribution and to support color mixing for improved color uniformityof a beam, for example.

Some representative embodiments will be described more fully hereinafterwith example reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrateembodiments of the technology. The technology may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the technology to those appropriately skilled in theart.

The technology will now be described more fully with reference to FIGS.1-15, which describe representative embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 1-5 describe a first representative optic that has afirst backside form, along with representative fabrication tooling.FIGS. 6-9 describe a second representative optic that has a secondbackside form, along with representative fabrication tooling. FIGS.12-15 describe a third representative optic that has a second backsideform, along with representative fabrication tooling.

Turning now to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, an example optic 100 formanaging light emitted by a light emitting diode 450 is illustrated inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 1 is anillustration of an example cross sectional view of the optic 100 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 2A and2B respectively are illustrations of front and backsides 225, 250 of anexample optical array 200 formed from an array of the optics 100illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 3 is an illustration of a cross sectional view of anexample mold 300 for fabricating the optic 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is anillustration of a cross sectional view of the optic 100 of FIG. 1overlaid with example ray traces 425 in accordance with some embodimentsof the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example polarplot 500 of illumination output for the optic 100 of FIG. 1 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, the optic 100 comprises a backside 150that receives light from the light emitting diode 450 and a front side125 that emits the received light. In the illustrated embodiment, thefront side 125 comprises a convex region 110, which may be spherical,aspherical, or some other appropriate form. As illustrated, the convexregion 110 is rotationally symmetrical about an optical axis 475 of thelight emitting diode 450.

In the illustrated example, the backside 150 of the optic 100 comprisesa convex central region 140 disposed adjacent the light emitting diode450. The light emitting diode 450 is centered in the convex centralregion 140 in this example. The convex central region 140 isrotationally symmetrical about an optical axis 475 of the light emittingdiode 450.

A groove 135 extends peripherally about or circumscribes the convexcentral region 140. Another groove 125 extends peripherally about orcircumscribes the groove 135 and the convex central region 140. Asillustrated, the groove 125, the groove 135, and the convex centralregion 140 are concentric. However, other embodiments may incorporatenonconcentric grooves. As illustrated, the groove 125 is deeper than thegroove 135. In other embodiments, the groove 125 and the groove 135 mayhave substantially similar depths, or the groove 135 may be deeper thanthe groove 125.

In the illustrated embodiment, an outer portion 131 of the groove 135and an inner portion 132 of the groove 125 form a protrusion 130. Theprotrusion 130 extends peripherally about or circumscribes the groove135 and the convex central region 140. The illustrated backside 150 ofthe optic 100 further comprises a flat area 106 and a recessed area 115that facilitates mechanical mounting or positioning.

As can be seen in the example ray traces 425 illustrated by FIG. 4, thelight emitting diode 450 emits light across a range of angles extendingfrom the optical axis 475 towards perpendicular to the optical axis 475.A central portion 406 of the light rays 425 are incident upon and arerefracted by the convex central region 140 of the optic 100, whichcondenses the resulting output beam.

Another portion of the light rays 425 comprises peripheral light 407that propagates in the opening behind the optic 100 provided by thegroove 135. Thus, peripheral light 407 propagates radially across thegroove 135 through open space along the backside 150 of the optic 100.That peripheral light 407 is incident upon the surface 131 of theprotrusion 130, where the illustrated surface 131 is also a side surfaceof the groove 135. The peripheral light 407 enters the optic 100 throughthe surface 131 and is internally reflected by the surface 132 of theprotrusion 130, where the illustrated surface 132 is also a surface ofthe groove 125. The internal reflection, which may comprise totalinternal reflection or internal reflection resulting from metallization,directs the peripheral light 407 forward for incidence upon the convexregion 110 of the front side 125 of the optic.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the optic 100 can be fabricated via injectionmolding using the illustrated mold 300. The mold 300 comprises a frontmold member 325 and a backside mold member 350 that can be clampedtogether during molding operation and that may be characterized astooling inserts. When the front mold member 325 and the backside moldmember 350 are so arranged, they form a cavity 375 into which moltenoptical polymer is injected, thus forming the optic 100. When the moltenoptical polymer cools, the members 325, 350 are separated to release thesolidified optic 100 for removal. The polymer can comprisepolycarbonate, acrylic, or another appropriate optical material, forexample.

Rather than limited to producing individual optical elements, the mold300 can comprise an array of optical features (one of which is shown inFIG. 3 in a detail view) for producing the optical array 200 illustratedin FIG. 2. FIG. 2A illustrates the front side 225, while FIG. 2Billustrates the backside 250 of the optical array 200. Each of theindividual optics 100 in the optical array 200 can be aligned to adifferent light emitting diode 450 to provide an array of light sources,for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, an example illumination pattern for theoptic 100 and the associated light emitting diode 450 will be describedin further detail. As discussed above, the optic 100 condenses the lightproduced by the light emitting diode 450 to create a beam that isnarrower or diverges less than the light emitting directly from the rawlight emitting diode 450. Thus, in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, theoptic 100 concentrates the light emitted by the light emitting diode 450to achieve a relatively narrow distribution.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example polar plot 500 of the resultingconcentrated illumination. The polar plot 500 includes a trace 525 andanother trace 550 that were generated using computer modeling ratherthan by laboratory testing. The trace 550 describes the intensity of thelight output by the optic 100 as a function of angular deviation fromthe optical axis 475. Thus, if the optic 100 is positioned so that theoptical axis 475 is vertical and perpendicular to a line 503representing horizontal, the trace 550 describes illumination intensityacross a range of angles that extends between the optical axis 475 andline 503.

Meanwhile, the trace 525 describes intensity of azimuthal lightdistribution of the optic 100 or light distribution intensitycircumferentially around the optical axis 475. Thus, the trace 525characterizes a birds-eye view of the illumination pattern and showsthat the optic 100 and the light emitting diode 450 produce arotationally symmetrical light distribution.

The data underlying the trace 550 show a beam angle of approximately 60degrees and a field angle of approximately 80 degrees (which are examplevalues among a wide range of others supported by embodiments of thedisclosure). Accordingly, the optic 100 is well suited for some overheadmounting applications at mounting heights above 40 feet (among heightsand other applications).

Turning now to FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, an example optic 600 formanaging light emitted by a light emitting diode 450 is illustrated inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is anillustration of an example cross sectional view of the optic 600 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 7A and7B respectively are illustrations of front and backsides 225, 750 of anexample optical array 700 formed from an array of the optic 600illustrated in FIG. 6 in accordance with some embodiments of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross sectional view of anexample mold 800 for fabricating the optic 600 illustrated in FIG. 6 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is anillustration of a cross sectional view of the optic 600 of FIG. 6overlaid with example ray traces 925 in accordance with some embodimentsof the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is an illustration of an examplepolar plot 1000 of illumination output for the optic 600 of FIG. 6 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the optic 600 comprises a backside 650 thatreceives light from the light emitting diode 450 and a front side 125that emits the received light. In the illustrated embodiment, the frontside 125 comprises a convex region 110, which may be spherical,aspherical, or some other appropriate form. As illustrated, the convexregion 110 is rotationally symmetrical about the optical axis 475 of thelight emitting diode 450. In the illustrated embodiment, the front side125 of the optic 600 has the same form as the front side 125 of theoptic 100 that is illustrated in FIG. 1 and discussed above.

In the illustrated example, the backside 150 of the optic 100 comprisesa concave central region 625 disposed adjacent the light emitting diode450. In the illustrated example embodiment, the concave central region625 comprises a flared periphery. The light emitting diode 450 can becentered upon the concave central region 625 for example. Theillustrated backside 650 of the optic 600 further comprises a flat area106 and a recessed area 115 that facilitates mechanical mounting orpositioning.

As can be seen in the example ray traces 925 illustrated by FIG. 9, thelight emitting diode 450 emits light across a range of angles extendingfrom the optical axis 475 towards perpendicular to the optical axis 475.The concave central region 625 receives and refracts the emitted light.Thus, light enters the optic 600 through the concave central region 625.The light then exits the optic 600 through the convex region 110 of thefront side 125 of the optic 600. As will be discussed in further detailbelow with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the optic 600 produces anillumination pattern that is less concentrated and thus is moredivergent than the optic 100.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the optic 600 can be fabricated via injectionmolding using the illustrated mold 800. The mold 800 comprises the frontmold member 325 and a backside mold member 850 that can be clampedtogether during molding operation, and that may be characterized astooling inserts, as discussed above with reference to FIG. 3. When thefront mold member 325 and the backside mold member 850 are so arranged(for example as illustrated in FIG. 8), they form a cavity 875 intowhich molten optical polymer is injected to form the optic 600. When themolten optical polymer cools, the members 325, 850 are separated forremoval of the solidified optic 600.

Since the mold 800 utilizes the same front mold member 325 as used bythe mold 300, three mold members (the mold member 325, the mold member350, and the mold member 850) can be utilized to make two differenttypes of optics. In other words, the mold member 325 can be paired withthe mold member 350 or the mold member 850. Using the same mold memberwith two different molds reduces tooling costs relative to havingdedicated mold members.

In some example embodiments, the mold 800 can comprise an array ofoptical features for producing the optical array 700 illustrated in FIG.7. FIG. 7A illustrates the front side 225, while FIG. 2B illustrates thebackside 750 of the optical array 700. Each of the individual optics 600in the optical array 700 can be aligned to a different light emittingdiode 450 to provide an array of light sources, as discussed above, forexample.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, an example illumination pattern for theoptic 600 and the associated light emitting diode 450 will be furtherdescribed. As discussed above, the optic 600 manages the light producedby the light emitting diode 450 to create a beam of controlleddivergence. As shown by the geometry of the light rays 925 illustratedin FIG. 9, as compared to the light rays 425 illustrated in FIG. 4, theoptic 600 spreads light more broadly than the optic 100.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example polar plot 1000 of the resultingillumination pattern. The polar plot 1000 includes a trace 1025 andanother trace 1050 that were generated using computer modeling. Inkeeping with the traces 525, 550 of the plot 500, the trace 1050describes light intensity according to angular deviation from theoptical axis 475. Thus, if the optic 600 were mounted overhead to emitlight vertically downward, the trace 1050 would characterize intensityat angles between straight downward and horizontal. Accordingly, acomparison between the trace 500 and the trace 1050 shows that the optic600 outputs a more divergent illumination pattern than the optic 100.Meanwhile, the trace 1025 shows that light distribution produced by theoptic 600 is rotationally symmetrical about the optical axis 475, whichis consistent with the rotational symmetry of the optic 100 discussedabove.

The data underlying the trace 550 show a beam angle of approximately 85degrees and a field angle of approximately 105 degrees (which areexample values among a wide range of others supported by embodiments ofthe disclosure). Accordingly, the optic 600 is well suited for overheadmounting at lower mounting heights than the optic 100. For example, theoptic 600 may be utilized for outdoor illumination at a mounting heightof 20, 30, or 40 feet (for some overhead mounting applications, amongother heights and applications).

Turning now to FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, an example optic 1100 formanaging light emitted by a light emitting diode 450 is illustrated inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 11 isan illustration of an example cross sectional view of the optic 1100 inaccordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGS. 12Aand 12B respectively are illustrations of front and backsides 225, 1250of an example optical array 1200 formed from an array of the optic 1100illustrated in FIG. 11 in accordance with some embodiments of thepresent disclosure. FIG. 13 is an illustration of a cross sectional viewof an example mold 1300 for fabricating the optic 1100 illustrated inFIG. 11 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 14 is an illustration of a cross sectional view of the optic 1100of FIG. 11 overlaid with example ray traces 1425 in accordance with someembodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 15 is an illustration of anexample polar plot 1500 of illumination output for the optic 1100 ofFIG. 11 in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.

As best seen in FIGS. 11 and 14, the optic 1100 comprises a backside1150 positioned to receive light from the light emitting diode 450 and afront side 125 that emits the received light. In the illustrated exampleembodiment, the front side 125 has the same form as the optic 100, hasthe same form as the optic 1100, and comprises a convex region 110, asdiscussed above. As illustrated, the convex region 110 is rotationallysymmetrical about an optical axis 475 of the light emitting diode 450.

In the illustrated example, the backside 1150 of the optic 1100comprises a concave central region 1140 disposed adjacent the lightemitting diode 450 to receive light. In the illustrated exampleembodiment, the light emitting diode 450 is centered in the concavecentral region 1140 in this example.

A groove 1125 extends peripherally about or circumscribes the concavecentral region 1140. As illustrated, the groove 1125 and the concavecentral region 1140 are concentric or coaxial and are aligned to theconvex region 110. However, other embodiments may incorporate one ormore nonconcentric grooves. As illustrated, the concave central region1140 is deeper than the groove 1125. In some embodiments, the groove1125 may be deeper than the concave central region 1140. In someembodiments, the groove 1125 has a depth in a range of plus or minusapproximately 35 percent of the depth of the concave central region1140.

In the illustrated embodiment, an outer portion 1131 of the concavecentral region 1140 and an inner portion 1126 of the groove 1125 form aprotrusion 1130. The protrusion 1130 extends peripherally about orcircumscribes the concave central region 1140, and the protrusion 1130is disposed radially between the groove 1125 and the concave centralregion 1140. The illustrated backside 1150 of the optic 1100 furthercomprises a flat area 106 and a recessed area 115 that facilitatesmechanical mounting or positioning.

As can be seen in the example ray traces 1425 illustrated by FIG. 14,the light emitting diode 450 emits light across a range of anglesextending from the optical axis 475 to perpendicular to the optical axis475. A central portion 1406 of the light rays 1425 are incident upon andare refracted by the surface of the concave central region 1140 of theoptic 1100 for subsequence incidence upon the internal surface of theconvex region 110 of the front side 125 of the optic 1100. Thus, theconcave central region 1140 refracts a portion of incident light intothe convex region 110 at the front side 125 of the optic 1100.

Another portion of the light rays 1425 comprises peripheral light 1407that transmits through the outer portion 1131 of the concave centralregion 114 and is incident upon the inner portion 1126 of the groove1125. The inner portion 1126 of the groove 1125 internally reflectsthose light rays 1407 into the convex region 110 on the front side ofthe optic 1100, for transmission out of the optic 1100. In other words,the light rays 1407 transmit through the inner surface of the protrusion1130 and are reflected by the outer surface of the protrusion 1130towards the convex region 110. The reflection is typically totalinternal reflection, but may alternatively be via metallization or othertreatment.

Referring now to FIG. 13, the optic 1100 can be fabricated via injectionmolding using the illustrated mold 1300. The mold 1300 comprises a frontmold member 325 and a backside mold member 1350 that can be clampedtogether during molding operation and that may be characterized astooling inserts. When the front mold member 325 and the backside moldmember 1350 are so arranged, they form a cavity 1375 into which moltenoptical polymer is injected to form the optic 1100. As discussed above,the backside mold member 1350 in combination with the front mold member325, the backside mold member 350, and the backside mold member 850 forma mold tooling system that can produce three type of optics having threedifferent backside forms.

Rather than limited to producing individual optical elements, the mold1300 can comprise an array of optical features for producing the opticalarray 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12. FIG. 12A illustrates the front side225, while FIG. 2B illustrates the backside 1250 of the optical array1200. Each of the individual optics 1100 in the optical array 1200 canbe aligned to a different light emitting diode 450 to provide an arrayof light sources, for example.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, an example illumination pattern forthe optic 1100 and the associated light emitting diode 450 will bedescribed in further detail. As discussed above, the optic 1100incorporates a combination of concave refractive features, convexrefractive features, and internally reflective features to manipulatethe light produced by the light emitting diode 450 and produce a beamwith controlled divergence. In the embodiment of FIGS. 11-15, the optic1100 spreads the light emitted by the light emitting diode 450 toachieve a relatively broad distribution that is wider and moredivergence than the illumination produced by the optic 100 or the optic600.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example polar plot 1500 of the resultingillumination. The polar plot 1500 includes a trace 1525 and anothertrace 1550 that were generated using computer modeling. The trace 1550describes the intensity of the light output by the optic 1100 as afunction of angular deviation from the optical axis 475, while the trace1525 describes intensity of azimuthal light distribution of the optic1100 or light distribution intensity circumferentially around theoptical axis 475.

The data underlying the trace 1550 show a beam angle of approximately110 degrees and a field angle of approximately 140 degrees (which areexample values among a wide range of others supported by embodiments ofthe disclosure). Accordingly, the optic 1100 is well suited for overheadmounting at lower mounting heights than the optic 100 or the optic 600.For example, the optic 1100 may be utilized for some outdoorillumination applications at a mounting height of 20 or 25 feet (amongother heights and applications).

Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosures set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thesedisclosures pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the disclosures are not to be limited to the specificembodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments areintended to be included within the scope of this application. Althoughspecific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic anddescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A lighting system comprising: a light emittingdiode; and an optic comprising: a backside positioned to receive lightfrom the light emitting diode; and a front side that is opposite thebackside and that is convex, wherein the backside comprises: a convexregion disposed adjacent the light emitting diode; a first groovecircumscribing the convex region; and a second groove circumscribing theconvex region and the first groove, wherein the second groove is deeperthan the first groove.
 2. The lighting system of claim 1, the opticcomprising a protrusion that is disposed between the first groove andthe second groove and that circumscribes the first groove and the convexregion.
 3. The lighting system of claim 2, wherein the protrusioncomprises: a first surface oriented towards the convex region; and asecond surface oriented away from the convex region, and wherein thefirst groove provides space for peripheral light emitted by the lightemitting diode to enter the optic through the first surface of theprotrusion.
 4. The lighting system of claim 3, wherein the secondsurface of the protrusion is operative to internally reflect theperipheral light that enters the optic through the first surface of theprotrusion.
 5. The lighting system of claim 4, wherein the secondsurface comprises a totally internally reflective surface.
 6. Thelighting system of claim 1, wherein the light emitting diode comprisesan array of light emitting diodes that the lighting system comprises,and wherein the optic comprises an optical array aligned to the array oflight emitting diodes.
 7. A system for fabricating optics, the systemcomprising: a first member; a second member; and a third member, whereinthe first member and the second member comprise a first injection moldfor molding a first type of optic, wherein the first member and thethird member comprise a second injection mold for molding a second typeof optic, wherein the first type of optic and the second type of optichave a common front side formed by the first member, wherein the firsttype of optic and the second type of optic have different backside formsthat are formed by the second member and the third member for providingtwo different light distributions, and wherein the second member formsthe first type of optic such that it comprises: a first backside, thefirst backside comprising: a convex region; a first groovecircumscribing the convex region; and a second groove circumscribing theconvex region and the first groove, wherein the second groove is deeperthan the first groove.
 8. The system for fabricating optics of claim 7,the first backside of the first type of optic comprises a protrusionthat is disposed between the first groove and the second groove and thatcircumscribes the first groove and the convex region.
 9. The system forfabricating optics of claim 8, wherein the protrusion comprises: a firstsurface oriented towards the convex region; and a second surfaceoriented away from the convex region, and wherein the first grooveprovides space for peripheral light emitted by a light emitting diode toenter the first type of optic through the first surface of theprotrusion.
 10. The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the secondsurface of the protrusion is operative to internally reflect theperipheral light that enters the first type of optic through the firstsurface of the protrusion.
 11. The lighting system of claim 10, whereinthe second surface comprises a totally internally reflective surface.12. A lighting system comprising: a light emitting diode; and an opticcomprising: a backside positioned to receive light from the lightemitting diode; and a front side that is opposite the backside and thatis convex, wherein the backside comprises: a convex region disposedadjacent the light emitting diode; a first groove circumscribing theconvex region; a second groove circumscribing the convex region and thefirst groove; and a protrusion disposed between the first groove and thesecond groove and that circumscribes the first groove and the convexregion, wherein the protrusion comprises: a first surface orientedtowards the convex region; and a second surface oriented away from theconvex region, and wherein the first groove provides space forperipheral light emitted by the light emitting diode to enter the opticthrough the first surface of the protrusion, and wherein the secondsurface of the protrusion is operative to internally reflect theperipheral light that enters the optic through the first surface of theprotrusion.
 13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the secondsurface comprises a totally internally reflective surface.
 14. Thelighting system of claim 12, wherein the second groove is deeper thanthe first groove.
 15. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the lightemitting diode comprises an array of light emitting diodes that thelighting system comprises, and wherein the optic comprises an opticalarray aligned to the array of light emitting diodes.